A mother who strangled her toddler then carried his lifeless body into a police station was subject to an indefinite hospital order today.

Melanie Ruddell had suffered a "catastrophic mental breakdown" in the days before she killed two-year-old Christy, a court heard.

Her family were so concerned about her behaviour that they asked the authorities for help in the run-up to Ruddell killing her son, but tragically their attempts failed.

Ruddell, a stationery saleswoman, was charged with murder but a guilty plea to the lesser charge of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility was accepted by the prosecution at Newcastle Crown Court.

No details about the case were opened to the public.

Jamie Hill QC, defending, said Ruddell had been hard-working, well-respected and a "devoted" mother to her only child.

"As far as then family is concerned, the tragedy is heightened by the fact that they did try to so much in the days leading up to the death of Christy," he said.

Ruddell and Christy’s father Alan had lived in the sought-after village of Castle Eden, County Durham, but their marriage was ending.

Mother and son were staying with her bother Neil Close, a corporal in the Royal Engineers who has served in Iraq and been honoured for his bravery, in West Rainton.

Two days before Christy was killed, she was taken by ambulance to the University Hospital of Hartlepool after family members expressed concern about her welfare. Ruddell later discharged herself.

It was at her brother’s house that she fatally injured her son.

Hours later she carried him in to Peterlee Police Station and shortly afterwards was arrested.

Mr Hill said her family had been told by medics at the Hartlepool hospital that they would have to wait two hours for treatment as staff were dealing with another crisis.

He said Ruddell has shown no pity for herself and was consumed by grief.

Mr Justice McCombe, presiding, said: "In very tragic circumstances on the weekend of August 6 Mrs Ruddell had a catastrophic mental breakdown ... to the great distress of her family and friends.

"They sought on various occasions to try to get her appropriate medical attention but unfortunately they were unable to do so before, on Monday August 9, Mrs Ruddell killed her young son."

The judge said the case was "totally tragic".

Mr Hill said many of the people in the public gallery were family members who continued to support her.

Afterwards Detective Superintendent Adrian Green said: "This was a tragic case in which there are many victims, from Christy Ruddell, a beautiful two-year-old boy, all his family and friends, and not least of all, Melanie herself, who suffered a catastrophic mental breakdown.

"Melanie was a devoted and loving mother, and well-liked professional woman.

"She acted as she did on that day to save and protect Christy from dangers which terrified her.

"Tragically, these fears were part of her mental breakdown and not real.

"I hope people remember Melanie as she was and give her the compassion which someone who is very ill deserves."